The Grand Opening

Chapter 8: The Grand Opening

Back at her office, they wore the masterpiece on a headless mannequin that was safely kept on the table.

The necklace was so dazzling that one wouldn't be able to divert his gaze. It was made with expensive pearls and diamonds that were worth 30 million dollars.

Even Andrea found it difficult to concentrate on her work as she kept staring at it. She heard that the jewellery would be auctioned tonight and she wondered who would be the luckiest person to purchase it.

After work, she carefully locked her office. She was kept in charge of the masterpiece and she knew the consequences will be dire if anything was to happen to it.

mmediately she walked away, Daisy came out from behind the corner she was hiding. A smirk formed and settled on her lips.

She made a quick call “ your job will be carried out tomorrow according to the plan. I will be expecting my balance soon ” she said and hung up.

She smiled as she stared at the set of keys she was holding.

«»«» BACK OUTSIDE THE COMPANY «»«»

Andrea emerged from the building and she spotted Elena's Audi R8 in the parking lot.

She smiled and knocked on the window . Elena wind down completely.

“ Come on girl. You are 30 minutes late ” she said, rolling her eyes.

Andrea laughed “ I'm so sorry okay? You know we are hosting a grand opening in two days. There's a lot to take care of,” she replied.

“ Just get in. I don't want to keep a pregnant lady standing ” she said, and Andrea recalled she was still standing outside.

They got to the hospital and the doctor instructed Andrea to stop doing strenuous activities at her current pregnancy stage and everything else was fine. After getting into the car, Andrea couldn't stop laughing. She knew Elena was going to nag in the next 3,2 1

“ You heard what the doctor said, right? But no, you never listen I don't know if I should tie you up and lock you at home till your delivery date, ” Elena said as she turned the car around.

“ I'm sorry mom. I will heed to your advice from now on ” she said, pouting her lips.

“ Why don't we go baby shopping? There's still enough time, ” Elena suggested.

“ Oh right! I just remembered ” she said as she smacked her forehead.

They got to the biggest mall in the city, and went to purchase lots of baby necessities

’ Hey, let's go to the toy section, ”

They were walking when a lady bumped into Elena and the bag fell from her hand.

Elena raised her head to meet Lisa and her friends. “ you! ” she said as she was already getting furious.

“ Next time, watch where you are heading to, ” Lisa said.

“ You bumped into me on purpose and you are telling me to look my way. Do you think your father owns the mall? ” Elena fired at her.

Andrea, who had been keeping quiet, suddenly spoke up ” Lisa, I will advise you to respect yourself. You are heavily pregnant, you should be praying for a safe delivery rather than causing chaos ” she said, sounding as calm as possible.

“ hehehe. Just look at who's talking. Instead of you thinking about your fatherless unborn child, you are here lecturing me as if you are any better.” Lisa said mockingly.

Andrea pressed her lips together and she almost lost her cool. She had to keep chanting the fact that Lisa was heavily pregnant in order to suppress the urge to kill her.

“ I won't say anything to you. You are just looking for someone to send you to your early grave ” Andrea said and pulled Elena along.

After they were done shopping, Elena still had an angry look on her face.

“ Come on, stop being unreasonable like Lisa. We don't have to behave like her to prove that we are better ” she said and gave Elena a side hug.

*******

On the day of the opening, it was going to commence in the evening at 7 pm at a five-star hotel owned by the Wilson's.

It was 5 pm in the evening and Andrea got home from work to get ready. She noticed Elena hadn't gotten back from the hospital yet.

“ Are they on the night shift tonight? She asked herself, after getting pregnant, she felt her memory had become weak.

She went to the kitchen and heated up the leftover macaroni and cheese. She was eating when the thoughts of her aunt travelled to her.

She hadn't told her aunt that she was pregnant. She wondered how her aunt would take the news. Sometimes she thought maybe her mother had seen the future. That's why she refused to accept her in the first place.

She didn't even realise that she was crying already. She was jealous of Lisa even though Rosette wasn't a good mother. At least Lisa had her mother to support her and tell her the do's and don't in pregnancy. As for her, she had neither her mother nor even the baby's father at this difficult moment.

She felt really blessed that Elena was in her life. What would she have done when she was chased out of the house?

She wiped her tears and touched her tummy ” Dear babies, please don't be like your stupid mother who got herself pregnant,” ;she said, sniffing the mucus that threatened to come out.

The doctor had told her the gender of the twins.

She had been trying hard and acting strong all this while, so Elena wouldn't have to worry about her. But anytime she was alone She couldn't control her emotions.

She went back upstairs to get ready for the event. Since the time her pregnancy got to five months, she couldn't wear fitted clothes any longer.

She was putting on a loose fitting gown that stopped below her knees. Her hair was packed in a messy bun. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was a little swollen and pale, so she decided to apply powder and lipgloss.

She picked up her brown handbag and locked the house. Immediately, she got outside the building, she spotted Elena and her boyfriend sharing a passionate kiss.

She stared at them for a while as they kept flirting with each other and their laughter could be heard from afar.

“ They really looked good together.” Andrea though inwardly.

She was really happy for Elena. She did deserve it. She had already accepted her fate that she was meant to be a single mother.

Andrea walked quietly in a direction Elena wouldn't spot her; she didn't want to ruin their happy moments.

Immediately, she was about to take her left turn, she heard Elena's voice from behind.

’ trying to run huh? “ she said.

Andrea turned around and laughed ” Nah, I just didn't want to ruin your moments and, moreover, I am getting late,“ she added quickly.

“ Hi ” she waved at Ryan who was staring at her.

“ Hey Andrea, how are you doing? ” he asked politely.

“ I'm doing well. Tell this lover of urs that I'm running late and she should pardon me ” Andrea said.

“ Babe, remember we are going for a date tonight? Let Andrea be ” he said and pulled Elena with him.

“ But I think I should go with her because she's pregnant. and I don't think it is suitable for her to remain out late at night, ” Elena said, but Ryan refused to heed her words.

Andrea pursed her lip and waved at Elena. She sighed loudly and flagged a taxi. She couldn't stay around these two for long. They are always oppressing her in one way or two.

“ The Emperor Hotel,” she said, and the driver nodded.

She gazed out the window as the sun had already started facing west. All the streets were completely lit up with bright lights. Everyone on the avenue was putting on thick layers of clothing in order to feel warm. The weather was a little cold due to the rain that had fallen earlier.

She didn't dare to close her eyes for fear of dozing off. There has been news lately about thieves pretending to be cab drivers. She couldn't afford to lose her money. It was the only type of heartbreak she could receive now that might land her in the hospital.

She chuckled softly at the thought of it . She only had 20 dollars in her purse. She was speaking as if she had tons of bundles of cash. She had been saving massively ever since she got pregnant.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and shook his head.

She quickly maintained a straight face before the driver believed she had run crazy.

Soon, the car came to a halt. She looked through the window and they had arrived in front of a huge tall building with THE EMPEROR HOTEL written boldly on it.

She got down and paid the taxi driver, She watched as the taxi rocketed away.